Amata Speaks of Self-Government and Self-Determination at ConCon; Decries Threat from Outside Special Interests

Pago Pago – Addressing the delegates to this week's Convention as they consider changes to American Samoa's Constitution, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, a member of the Ma'oputasi County delegation to the convention (or ConCon), praised American Samoa for its exercise of self-government while decrying the efforts of outsiders to override self-determination through the federal court system, with the Supreme Court expected to consider later this month whether to hear a case that would impose U.S. citizenship on American Samoans, who are classified as U.S. nationals owing permanent allegiance to the United States.

Delivered to the delegates in the Samoan language, in the English translation made available, the congresswoman reminded ConCon delegates that "the concept of self-determination is a sacred concept to which we all agree and to which the United States formally has subscribed under the Charter of the United Nations, pledging that its territories will have the right to determine their own future consistent with international principles," and went on to say "(t)hat is why it must be said that in 2022, the most immediate and present danger to government by consent is the idea the federal judges could know better than our people and leaders and take away our right to change our political status without self-determination."

Having just returned to the territory from an eight-day swing through Asia as a member of fact-finding group organized under U.S. Senator Ed Markey, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, Amata said she was struck by her closed-door meetings with leaders in Taiwan.  "When asked by Senator Markey what the island wanted from the U.S., the leaders said, ‘All Taiwan is seeking is the right to determine their own future without interference from Beijing.’ That is no different than the understanding we have had with Washington but is now under threat from the courts."

In closing, Aumua Amata noted that any revisions to the Constitution approved by the voters under current federal law would need final approval by Congress.  Congressional approval of the amendments might make the whole Constitution federal law, with provisions subject to challenge in federal law.

She concluded by saying, "We have the option of asking Congress to repeal the law and revert to the previous arrangement of approval by the Secretary of Interior, amending the law just to prohibit unilateral changes by the federal government, or leave the law as it is. This body may want to recommend a course of action in its transmittal to the Governor.  As your representative in Congress, I will be guided by your wishes and introduce any changes needed in the laws."

Click here to read Congresswoman Amata’s remarks as translated into English.

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